A rare and club registered Ford Escort Mk2 Harrier 1/500 made in Strato Silver.

MODEL HISTORY
In November 1979, an Escort won Europe’s toughest event – the Lombard RAC Rally – for the eighth successive year. This victory clinched the 1979 World Rally Championship of Makes, for Ford. Escorts also captured the Team Prize, the Ladies prize and the Group 1 Category for standard production cars. To commemorate these unique achievements the Escort Harrier was launched in December 1979 with a limited production run of 1500 units until February 1980. Of the 1500, 1000 were made in Diamond White and 500 in Strato Silver. A link to the Harrier TV advert can be seen here. This car is noted on the Escort Mk2 Harrier Register.

EXTERIOR
Iconic and truly outstanding finished in metallic Strato Silver, (Code U), this is one of the rarest sporting Escorts. The flat front preferred by many and rubber rear RS spoiler combined with the unique three tone Blue body stripes help easily distinguish this as the desirable Harrier model. Carello Halogen headlamps with the Ford logo in the middle of the flat glass and Ford-branded twin auxiliary long-range driving lamps are correct along with the English Butlers-branded rear light units. A detailed restoration in 2008 is catalogued with photographs of the car proving the work carried out and the appearance is still remarkable in every way today some 10 years later. Visually factory standard other than the removal of the front overriders, (included) and a replacement front screen, this car is superb.

INTERIOR
The standard all-black interior is near perfect with body hugging Recaro sports seats and fishnets identical to those found in the RS2000 Custom. Door cards and headlining are factory correct, spotless and undamaged. Incredibly the vehicles still has the deep pile original carpeting which shows wear in the drivers foot well. A full set of working instrumentation and controls including the analogue quartz clock and heater fan on both speed settings. The standard Ford push button radio powers on but is not connected to any speakers The spotless boot area retains the factory minor modification of the RS-type bracket for the spare wheel strap, required to accommodate the larger alloy wheel and the battery is neatly mounted. An interior to evoke real sports flair of a racing thoroughbred.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Lift the bonnet to reveal the crowning jewel, a 2.0 16v Silver Top Zetec Ford engine being fed by twin 45 DCOE Weber carburetors. Beautifully installed at considerable cost to offer amazing and usable performance combined with modern reliability. The induction note and bark through the Retroford exhaust system is addictive. Components include an OMEX electronic ignition with coil pack conversion, Facet Red Top high flow fuel pump and pressure regulator, upgraded cooling system with electric fan and oil cooler. The transmission is a Type-9 5-speed gearbox and quick-shift gear lever with a Zetec flywheel adapted for the Type-9 paddle clutch. To complete the package is a RS2000 English axle, single piece propshaft and RS anti-tramp bars. The original Halewood build plate with HARRIER printed on the bottom of the colour tag riveted to the bonnet slam panel remains along with the original and correct later design chassis plate.

HISTORY FILE
Built at the Halewood Ford factory in January 1980 and supplied by Castle Motors Dudley to Mr Robert Carr this example has only had five former keepers. The fifth owner being Chris Parkes who is a knowledgeable fan of these rare machines and whose other Harrier is featured in Factory Original Sporting Mk2 Escorts by Dan Williamson. A colossal history file spanning three A4 files includes every MOT from the first to the current, old tax discs neatly displayed and even previous used car invoices including one from 1984 when the car was sold for £1000! An album of photographs of the restoration is also included along with original sales literature, laminated display sheets and model specific publications. The vehicle is listed on the Escort Mk2 Harrier Register. One key fits the ignition and all locks. Representing a fabulous opportunity to purchase one of the rarest sporting Fords with widely accepted improvements easily reversed, this iconic car should not be missed!